Box Jellyfish

Box jellyfish, Carybdea alata, are amongst the most venomous of jellyfish. In Hawaii, they reproduce near the coastline and approach southern and eastern shores of Oahu every month. Very hard to see in the water yet very dangerous, their powerful venom is discharged from their sensitive nematocysts at the slightest touch of their tentacles. Box jellyfish stings account for hundreds of human injuries every year, but can be mitigated by warm water and vinegar. Information on current Hawaiian box jelly research can be found at the Pacific Cnidaria Research Lab